The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-10
LOUISA n. ALCOTT,
ON THE BALLET AND THE
"BLAOH CROOK"
Corrupt YousK Hearts as They
Tickle bRId Heads.

ASOnhOh AfoHoJf tIJts an WIG
ject of the ballet has been recently
brought before the public, and much
private discussion has followed,
desire to enter my protest, with that
Of my friends, against the introduc.
ton of indecent dances into other
wise understandable spectacles for
the young. Last Saturday afternoon
a party of little girls were taken to
see the The Rdtchdrmer, the pref
ty story of THE Pied Piper" being
considered a pleasant and proper one
for children to enjoy. The play it.
self was harmless, the tuneful charm
or we'll acted, the rats and peasant
children highly satisfactory, but the
ballet spoilt the entertainment for
more than one party, as was plainly
shown by the disgust of the ladies'
and the comments OF the children.
Young as they we're, the ages OF our
three ranging from 7 to 10, the in
stincts Of these buds of women were
quick to see and feel the immodssty
Of the pink ladies'" who "didn' t
have enough clothes on, and kicked
about in tho improperest way
before ever 80 many men" The in
n0cent amazement Of these babes was
not the worst feature of the case,
however. A row of lads just in front
we're evidently taking their first les
sons in modern morals, and the grins,
nudges and remarks OF these boys
were a sad comment on the careless.
ness of parents. the blindness of pub
lie opinion, the fully of trying to
keep boys clean minded when such
temptations are set before them and
Endorsed by-their elders. The flock
of girls eating candy all about us and
surveying the most audacious poses
OF the ballet with calm interest made
it impossible to help wondering what
sort of wives aud mothers they would
become if at 16 they could see, with
out blushing, several hundred half
naked girls prance before them, as in
the Black CrOoR, could laugh at the
vulgar wit of that silliest of all plays,
AdoHiS, and troop eagerly to see
Camille" the courtesan, die in lace
and white cashmere. The ministers,
when asked their opinion OF this sub
ject, either condemn the stage en-
tirely. protested utter ignorance Of
the ballet or approved it, aud the
matter dropped, as so often before,
to the great disappointment Of many
anxious parents, who hoped that
these keepers of souls would manful-
ly wage war against one OF the crying
evils Of the day. -. s'q -
Therefore it becomes such persons
as are interested in public morals
and the guardianship of the young to
take up the question and try to puri-
fly the stage of this abomination,
making it what it should be, source
of instruction as we'll as pleasure.
Let the managers who get up these
brilliant spectacles remember prin-
oiple rs we'll as profit, and provide
harmless plays for young and old,
with less glitter and more decency,
fewer false wives and rakish hus-
bands; wholesome home scenes, not
dress parades and poor acting. The
good good old fairy plays always
drew. joshua Whitcomb fills any
house, and The Rivals still enjoys a
green old age. In heavens name,
then, let the playwrights fall to
aud give us something sweet and
true to human nature, or let
there be brought back the
best dramas of other days to teach
us what to like! Let the parents who
are responsible to God for the chill
dren they bring into the world look
well to their own ways, to do all that
in them lies to make it a safe home
for these inuOcents, and setexamples
fit to be followed, lest, while the
wild oats are sowed, the sad harvest
will bring them the bitterest remorse.
This is q matter in which women
may properly move, since they rule
society, are liberal patrons of the
theater, and universally allowed to be
by sex, education and the grace of
God the most moral half ofcreation.
Dear mothers, sisters and teachers,
let the cults you love 20 for a little
while, aud taking hint from Brown
ings innocent Pippa as she passes
unframed through scenes of love and
sin and death, heip to keep these
little girls of ours as safe through
ignorance as she was, and able to
sing with her;
God is in His Heaven.
All is well with thoworld.
As they go about the wholesome
work and play fitted to their years,
or, learning from the heather Budd-
ha that chastity is one of the cardi-
nal virtues which shall bring
mans soul safe to Nirvana in the
end, see that your sons be not
tempted to forget it by these allure
ments OF the flesh.
These boys and girls are TO be the
parents of the coming generation,
the makers of the happiness OF
home, the honor of the city, the
prosperity Of the State we are so
proud of. Let us remember this
and begin early to make them virtu-
GUS as we'll as brave and beautiful;
to teach them that the true conduct
of life is the highest culture, and
that a wise legislation which nips in
the bud is a better economy than
building prisons and hospitals to
heal and reform souls and
bodies which might have been
saved by care before ignor-
anoe and temptation ruined
them. Cease demonstrating against
the Withholding rights so many of us
are not yet ready to use aud profit by
one of the few conceded to us. Be
what you are so often called, the
good angels OF home, the keepers of
mems consoiences, the mothers of
the race. and do your duty in this
both tor the sake Of your
own children and those poorer ones
who lead a dangerous life for their
daily bread and your dangerous
pleasure, Il. NJ. ALCoTT.
----s -
ADVICE TO MOTHERS.
Mas. WINsLOw's SOOTHING SYRur should
always be used tor children teethinE, IL